Mount Burdell Open Space (4/1) Hike Preview

This week we head to the Novato area to hike on Mount Burdell. Here's Wendy's description of the hike: "This loop takes us by Hidden Lake, which hopefully will have water from these later rains. We may see Cream Cups, Tidy Tips, Baby Stars, and Balloon Clover as well as seven or eight species of butterflies. This is the only spot where Bitterroot, the Montana state flower, grows in Marin."  (Click here for a recap of our 2009 hike. Click here for an album of photos from past hikes.)

Directions to trailhead: Take Highway 101 north and take the San Marin Drive exit. Go west on San Marin Drive. Turn right on San Andreas Drive. The entrance to the Open Space will be on your right.

If you come to the dead end of San Andreas you've only gone about half a block too far. No lot, but plenty of curbside parking.

30 minutes from College of Marin.

Carpoolers can meet at 9:15 am at the Park & Ride lot on the east side of Highway 101 at Smith Ranch Road in the Terra Linda area north of the Marin Civic Center and downtown San Rafael.

No restrooms on this hike, but you can use the one at the Starbuck's in the shopping center at the intersection of San Marin Drive and San Andreas Drive, just down the street from the trailhead. (Click here to get a MapQuest map and driving directions.)

Weather forecast: As of Friday, March 28th, the National Weather Service forecast for the day of the hike was a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "E13 Old Quarry Trail to Mt. Burdell" in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, shows the general area that we'll be hiking in, although we'll probably turn left at intersection #2 and head directly to Hidden Lake rather than climb all of the way to the summit of the mountain as shown on the Martin's map.

Click here for a Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve map from the Marin County Open Space District's Web site.

The Google Earth image below shows where we'll be hiking. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).

Chimney Rock (3/25) Hike Preview

We'll return to Point Reyes National Seashore for this hike which we do every year in Spring. (Click here for a recap of our 2010 trek.  You can also view photos taken on past hikes.)

Here's what Wendy promises for this outing: "This is one of Marin's must-see spring wildflower displays which includes some beautiful endangered flowers. We'll see elephant seals at the overlook and take time to learn about their history and return from the brink of extinction. Bring binoculars if you have them."

Directions to trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Olema. Turn right at Olema onto Highway 1, then make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. (There are restrooms at the trailhead --- another 30-45 minutes down the road; if you need a restroom break now, take the first left off Bear Valley Road and stop at the Bear Valley Visitor Center).

Continue on Bear Valley Road until you pick up Sir Francis Drake again. Turn left to follow Sir Francis Drake out to Point Reyes. Go through Inverness. At the junction with Pierce Point Road, bear left and stay on Sir Francis Drake. Follow signs towards the Lighthouse and Drake’s Beach. You’ll pass the turn to Drake’s Beach on your left. Keep going until you see a left turn to Chimney Rock. (Sir Francis Drake continues on to end at the Lighthouse parking lot).

Driving time from the College of Marin: One hour, thirty minutes. Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's Church in Faifax about 8:30 am.

(Click here to get driving directions from your location and a MapQuest map showing the trailhead.) 

Restrooms at trailhead. (If you need an earlier restroom stop, you can stop at the Bear Valley Visitor Center). Click here to view and print a copy of the park map for the Point Reyes National Seashore.

Weather forecast: As of Friday, March 21st, the National Weather Service forecast for the Point Reyes Lighthouse area was a chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 58. (Click here for an updated forecast).

Real-time weather reporting for the Point Reyes Lighthouse is also available (click here). Sometimes it is very windy when we do this hike, so in addition to your rain gear (if the forecast changes), be sure to toss some extra layers and a warm jacket and hat (bring some duct tape to "tie" your hat on your head) in your car in case it is "blowin' like snot" (a sailor's term for windy weather).

More on this hike: The general area covered by this hike is shown in hike "G13 PR Lighthouse and Chimney Rock" in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin and the "Chimney Rock" hike in Tracy Salcedo-Chourre's book, Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

You can also view and print out a map of the Chimney Rock area from the Point Reyes National Seashore Web site. The Google Earth image below shows where we'll be on this outing. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).

"FInal Exam" Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during last week's "Final Exam" hike are now online!

View them on the Meandering blog or click here for the on-line album.

NO HIKE ON TUESDAY, 3/18

Just a reminder that there will be no hike on Tuesday, March 18th.

 The Spring Meandering in Marin on Tuesdays hike series begins on March 25th with our annual hike near Chimney Rock in Point Reyes National Seashore.

Spring 2014 Hike Descriptions Now Online!

The Spring 2014 Meandering in Marin hikes kick off on Tuesday, March 25th.

Click for the details on all of the hikes if you didn't receive it from Wendy or the College of Marin.

Al Grumet's Upcoming Art Show in Novato

Al Grumet (www.algrumet.com) who, along with his wife Sonia, hiked with us back in 2011, has
 an upcoming show at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art.

The show is entitled "Emerging Artists of the Bay Area" and will feature six of his mixed media installations. There are four other artists in the show.

The opening is Saturday, March 8 from 5-7 pm. Wine and snacks will be served.

A panel discussion with juror and San Francisco Chronicle Art Critic, Kenneth Baker, will be held on March 29th from 2-3 pm.

The museum is located at 500 Palm Drive in Novato.

Bon Tempe/Lagunitas "Final Exam" Hike (3/11) Preview

This is a lovely, level lakeside loop! We could see Ring-necked Ducks, Common Mergansers, American Widgeons, Ruddy Ducks, Buffleheads, and more.  This could also be the week for our first Acmon Blue Butterly!  (Click here for a recap of our 2010 hike. There's also an album of photos taken on past hikes.)

Remember to bring your contribution to our gourmet feast, a plate, cup, and utensils.  (We'll have lunch at Wendy's home in San Anselmo if rain - which is not likely - makes it impossible to use the group picnic area at Lake Lagunitas.)

Directions to trailhead:  As you enter Fairfax on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard jog left when you see the movie theater and make an immediate right. This puts you on the street that parallels Sir Francis Drake, but is on the other side of the Parkade.

Make the first left which is Bolinas Avenue. Follow the Bolinas-Fairfax Road for about 1 mile. Turn left onto Sky Oaks Road. You’ll need to pay at the kiosk ($8/day; or purchase a pass for $60 for Marin residents, $30 for Marin seniors 62 and older, good through next January; pay with $1, $5 and $10 bills or Visa or Mastercard.  $20 bills are NOT accepted by the pay station.

Follow the paved road on to Lake Lagunitas.

(Click here for the MMWD map and directions. Or click here for a MapQuest map showing the trailhead location; click on "Get Directions" at the top left side of the map and enter your location to get driving directions and estimated travel time from your location).

We’ll have lunch at the picnic area at Lake Lagunitas so you don’t need to carry the food for the potluck.

Time: 30 minutes from College of Marin. Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's Church at 9:20 am.

Restrooms at trailhead, portables en route. 

Weather forecast:  As of Tuesday, March 4th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 66. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "C13 Bon Tempe Lake Trail" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the general area where we will be hiking. However, we'll start and end at trail junction #2 on their map, rather than at Bon Tempe dam. (Click here for an MMWD map that shows this area).

The Google Earth image below shows both lakes in a view looking back towards Fairfax. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).